10 Things You Probably Don’t Know About St. Augustine

byJamesonAugust 28, 2009

St. Augustine is one of the greatest and most influential Church Fathers. His writings have shaped both Catholic and Protestant theology and his greatest work The Confessionsis one of the most widely translated, published and read books after the Bible. Much is known about his life but here are ten facts you might not know about him. If you are interested in learning more about this great saint, please read Augustine: Major Writingsby Fr. Benedict Groeschel or watch his DVD presentation St. Augustine.

1. Augusta, FL is named after St. Augustine and Santa Monica, CA is named after his mother.

2. Augustine was baptized by St. Ambrose in Milan at the Easter Vigil in 387.
3. His words are quoted in St. Thomas Aquinas’ writings on nearly every page.

4. His mother, Monica, is buried in the church of St. Augustine in Rome.

5. Augustine spent his life fighting the great heresies of the Manicheans, Pelagians, Arians, and Donatists.

6. Augustine did not want to be a bishop so he avoided going to towns where a bishop was needed. He founded his monastery in Hippo where Valerius was bishop, but was immediately made his auxiliary bishop.

7. He worked with St. Jerome on the New Testament Vulgate and is largely responsible for the inclusion of Hebrews and Revelations into the Bible.

8. He was the first theologian to say that men and women were both equal and made in the image of God.